Jean Berthoin

Jean Berthoin
Berthoin in 1950
Minister of the Interior
In office
8 January 1959  27 May 1959
PresidentCharles de Gaulle
Prime MinisterMichel Debré
Preceded byÉmile Pelletier
Succeeded byPierre Chatenet
Personal details
Born(1895-01-12)12 January 1895
Enghien-les-Bains, France
Died25 February 1979(1979-02-25) (aged 84)
Paris, France
Political partyRadical Party
ChildrenGeorges Berthoin

Jean Berthoin (January 12, 1895 – February 25, 1979) was a French politician. As Minister of National Education under Charles de Gaulle, he instituted a policy of compulsory education for all children, both French and foreign citizens, until the age of sixteen, building on the earlier reforms of 1936. Implemented in 1959, this was known as the Berthoin Ordinance. He also suggested that the Baccalauréat be abolished, prompting a significant backlash in the Parisian press.

Prior to World War II, Berthoin had been the director of national security (Sûreté) in the French Interior Ministry.